Musty Basement Solutions
The good news about the problem of musty basements is that you’re not alone. Millions of people have the exact same problem as yours, which is most likely brought about by faulty drainage and a poorly ventilated space. A musty basement is aggravated by the use of wallpapers and carpets which prevent the aeration of the walls and floors – thus creating a conducive environment for molds and fungi. The first thing you have to do is to try to solve the root cause of water seepage. Next, use semi-permeable paint instead of carpets and wallpapers. Lastly, invest in equipment such as exhaust fans, dehumidifiers, and air cleaners that would help prevent musty basement woes.
How to Cure a Musty Basement
You’ve spent time and effort–not to mention money–on finishing a basement, but now the basement has started giving of a musty and rank smell making it quite unusable. How can you go about making the musty basement a hospitable and inviting place again?
When solving the problem of a musty basement, remember that the reason for the musty and rank smell is that lack of air circulation and high level of humidity in the basement. High levels of humidity and moisture provide areas for mold and bacteria to grow and prosper.
One of the obvious solutions to a musty basement is to reduce humidity levels in the basement. This can be done in several ways. You could install an exhaust fan in the basement, which will help expel the musty and dank air from the basement. You could also install a dehumidifier to reduce the levels of humidity in the musty basement. Installing an air cleaner which purifies the air in the room and forces fresh air circulation in the room may also be a good idea.
It is also important to remove from the musty basement materials which mold can thrive and grow on. Remove from the basement any cellulose-based materials, including paper, cardboard boxes, gypsum board and wood. Carpets often breed molds after absorbing moisture so take out the carpets and leave them to dry in the sun for a while. If possible, totally do away with carpets. Once you have removed the carpets, mop the concrete floor and walls with a mixture of soap and water. Then coat it with a layer of bleach. This will help remove the any mold. You could then paint the concrete floor in patterns of your choice with a latex based concrete floor paint which is semi permeable in nature. As a rule leave the walls free of wall paper. It keeps the walls from drying if they get wet and mold thrives on paper too.
If possible, totally do away with carpets. Once you have removed the carpets, mop the concrete floor and walls with a mixture of soap and water. Then coat it with a layer of bleach. This will help remove the any mold. You could then paint the concrete floor in patterns of your choice with a latex based concrete floor paint which is semi permeable in nature. As a rule leave the walls free of wall paper. It keeps the walls from drying if they get wet and mold thrives on paper too.